Bingo game device



Oct. 3, 1961 A. E. BACHMAN 3,002,491

BINGO GAME! DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1960 II E v I v I g 5 l} II II I INVENTOR. 30 Aueza E. EACH/WAN United States Patent 3,002,491 BINGO GAME DEVECE Alfred E. Bachman, Lebanon, Pa, assignor to Gustave Miller, Washington, D.C. Filed Feb. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 6,894 1 Claim. (Cl. 116-134) This invention relates to an improvement in a game device, and it more particularly relates to a device which is especially adapted for use in the game of bingo.

Bingo is by now a very popular game utilizing one or more boards or cards under the control of each of a number of players. These boards or cards are marked out in rows and columns of blocks, each block having a number imprinted thereon with the center block usually marked Free. These individually held boards or cards each with a difli'erent combination of numbers, are used in conjunction with a master board controlled by the caller. The caller draws out discs or cards, each bearing a number. These numbers are pulled out at random and if the number matches a number on the individual board or card, a disc or the like is placed over that numbered block by the player. The first player to have a complete series of covered blocks, either straight or diagonal, wins'the game.

As stated above, it has heretofore been the general practice to use little discs to cover the numbered blocks. However, these discs have various disadvantages among which are their tendency to fall and roll away. Another disadvantage is that when a game is finished and the player must get ready for the next game, it is time consuming and bothersome to collect all the individual discs. This is especially true when one player is playing a number of different boards or cards simultaneously as is often done.

In order to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages, there have been some prior attempts to use boards or cards having slidable or pivoted panels covering the numbered blocks. The panels, in these cases, are part of the bingo card itself. This, however, has proved commercially infeasible because of the expense involved in the production of such complex boards or cards. Furthermore, after the game is over and it is desired to get ready for the next game, each of the panels in these type boards must be returned to its original position separately.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid difliculties by providing an auxiliary board which can be used in conjunction with any ordinary bingo card and which eliminates the necessity of using individual discs or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary board of the aforesaid type which can be quickly and easily set up for the next game after the previous game has been finished.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary board of the aforesaid type which is simple in construction and easy to use.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved auxiliary board, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a bingo auxiliary board embodying the present invention.

Patented Oct. 3, 1961 FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a board, generally designated 10, which comprises a base sheet 12 and a top sheet 14 connected to the base sheet by a clear adhesive or in any other desirable manner. Both the base sheet 12 and top sheet 14 are constructed of a clear white or transparent plastic material such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride or the like. Since the base sheet 12 comprises the primary support of the board, it is shown as of substantially greater thick ness than the top sheet 14.

The base sheet 12 is provided with five rows and five intersecting columns of generally square or rectangular apertures 16, forming twenty-five apertures in all. The top sheet 14 is similarly provided with twenty-five square or rectangular apertures 18 mating with the apertures 16 in sheet 12. However, the apertures 18 are somewhat wider at one side than the apertures 16 so that they form shoulders or ledges 20.

The base sheet12 is provided onits upper surface with a series of spaced parallel grooves, each of which intersects a column of apertures 16 adjacent one edge thereof. In each of these grooves is positioned a rod or heavy wire 22. These rods or wires 22 are placed in their grooves during assembly of the board 10 prior to placing the top sheet 14 over the base sheet 12.. Then when the top sheet 14 is set in place, the rods or wires 22 are embedded within the board except where they pass through the apertures 16.

The rods or wires 22 serve as pivot rods for flaps 24, one of which is provided for each pair of mating apertures 16 and 18. These flaps 24- are wider than the apertures 16 but smaller than apertures 18 so that when they are in their closed positions (best shown in FIG. 3), their forward edges are seated on the corresponding ledges 20.

The flaps 24 are provided on their upper surfaces, adjacent their pivoted edges, with wedge-shaped, weighted stops 26. These stops 26, being oil-center relative to their respective flaps, permit easy opening of the flaps while, at the same time, they prevent closing of the flaps except when positive force is applied thereto. This prevents any tendency to accidental or inadvertent closing.

The flaps 24 are also constructed of a transparent colored plastic material so that it is possible to view the numbers of a bingo card held thereunder even when the flaps are in their closed positions.

In the center of the board 10, the central apertures 16 and 18 are not provided with a pivoted flap but are instead permanently closed by a transparent plate 28.

Preferably, the flaps 24 are provided with grooves or indentations 29 at their free edges to permit easier grasping by the players fingers.

On the bottom of the side edge of the board 10 is provided a very thin rib or flange 30. This flange 30 serves the purpose of holding the board it) in position and preventing it from sliding sideways off the bingo card 32 over which it is placed. It does, however, permit the board to slide forwardly or backwardly on the card.

-Due to the thinness of flange St the board 10 may still and so that the numbered blocks of the card mate with the apertures 16 and 18 of the board. In this position, at the start of the game, all the flaps 24 are in the open position. Then, as corresponding numbers are read off by the caller, the flaps 24 are closed until bingo is obtained by one of the players. Thereafter, before starting a new game, it is merely necessary for the players to turn the board 10 on one edge so that all the flaps 24 fall back into the open position. It is then replaced on the bingo card 32 and the players are ready for a new game. In this manner, one quick action ciears the board completely for the new game.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

A bingo card score keeping auxiliary device comprising a board for disposition over a bingo card, depending flanges on two opposite edges of said board adapted to embrace two opposite edges of the bingo card, said board comprising a thick base sheet and a thin top sheet secured thereto, said sheets having mating rectangular apertures corresponding in number and position to the blocks of the bingo card, the apertures of said base sheet being shorter along one corresponding edge, thereby providing ledges on said base sheet, a transparent flap for each rectangular aperture and pivot means for each said flap, said pivot means being located in said base means and extending into each of said apertures and through the flap therefor on the side opposite from said ledge side whereby said flap may be supported on said pivot means and said ledge when in closed position, and an upwardly projecting weighted stop on each said flap on its upper side when in closed position and adjacent said pivot means but spaced from its pivot edge to overlie the adjacent edge of the rectangular apertures when in open position and support and releasably hold said flap in open position until the board is tilted toward the ledge edges to tilt all the flaps simultaneously to closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,471,918 Roberts Oct. 23, 1923 1,602,069 DOrdine Oct. 5, 1926 2,155,332 Schuerlein Apr. 18, 1939 2,192,825 Carney Mar. 5, 1940 2,322,526 Lake June 22, 1943 2,409,493 Jones Oct. 15, 1946 2,500,495 Mutch Mar. 14, 1950 2,530,929 Wirfel Nov. 21, 1950 

